Here are a few of the most important news stories you need to know from the past week.
For the last decade, AALS has kept the legal academy and supporters informed with our weekly Legal Education News Digest and Blogs Digest. These digests track important developments in legal education, the legal profession, and higher education on the federal level. They also highlight new programs, collaborations between schools, milestones, faculty accomplishments, awards, clinical activities, and conferences/events. Sign up to receive these digests by email.
Law schools can share news and updates with the editors of the weekly digest here.
AALS Legal Education News Digest – Week Ending February 13, 2025
AALS Legal Education Blogs Digest – Week Ending February 13, 2025
Top stories from the past week include:
- The Law School Admission Council will discontinue online LSAT testing after the June exam and will only provide in-person testing due to growing concerns about cheating. LSAC have explained that the change is a result of reports of organized cheating rings and technical issues with remote testing. (Reuters)
- The ABA House of Delegates approved nearly 30 new policies focused on protecting judicial independence, strengthening government accountability, supporting Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and safeguarding programs like Medicaid. The resolutions on Public Service Loan Forgiveness urge loan servicers and the Executive Branch to more efficiently address student loan applications and plan change requests and also voice support for the program. (American Bar Association)
- The ABA’s legal education accrediting council is becoming more independent after the ABA Board of Governors approved two amended bylaws giving the council more control over its governance and accreditation decisions. The revised bylaws allow the council to codify revised standards, interpretations, or rules more quickly. (Law.com)
- Other legal education stories:
- AALS President and Penn State Dickinson Law dean Danielle Conway discusses her theme for the year “Emancipate. Academic. Freedom.” (Penn State Dickinson Law)
- Legal academics and law students sign petition urging Congress to pass the Federal Officer Accountability Act. (ABA Journal)
- Experts voice concern over the increase in law school applicants as AI raises uncertainty over the future of legal jobs. (Bloomberg Law)
Higher Education
- Congress added new restrictions in the latest government funding bill which could stop the Trump Administration from reallocating education funding. The bill specifically requires the US Department of Education to follow detailed spending instructions and limits its ability to shift money between programs. Experts express that this could restore some congressional control over education funding after the Trump Administration has made significant cuts to programs. (Inside Higher Ed)
- Black and Hispanic enrollment rose nationwide in 2024, though their enrollment declined at the most selective colleges. Experts warn that though diversity in enrollment has remained strong after the end of affirmative action, Black and Hispanic student enrollment could still be impacted as more universities feel threatened by federal policies. (The Hechinger Report)
- Colleges experienced a 9.2 percent decrease in gifts to college endowments in 2025. The decrease in donations has raised concerns for all universities but is especially troubling for universities with smaller endowments. (Higher Ed Dive)
Law School Programs, Clinics and Milestones
- University of Missouri Law Veterans Clinic offers assistance to local veterans. (Phelps County Focus)
- University of Utah Law Center for Land, Resources, and the Environment partners on cross-partisan conservation initiative. (The University of Utah)
- Vermont Law students help local low-income residents file their taxes (Valley News)